Crypto scam lures ships into Strait of Hormuz, falsely promising safe passage
Summary
Scammers are pretending to be Iranian authorities and asking ships near the Strait of Hormuz to pay a fake fee in cryptocurrency to get safe passage. This comes amid real attacks and military tensions in the area, making it hard for ships to travel safely.Key Facts
- Scammers use messages asking for transit fees in bitcoin or tether, pretending to be Iranian officials.
- The Strait of Hormuz is a key waterway through which about 20% of the world’s oil and gas pass.
- Iran demands cryptocurrency payments and requires ships to follow inspection routes near its coast.
- At least one ship fired upon by Iran may have been tricked into thinking it paid for safe passage.
- About 2,000 ships and 20,000 crew members are stuck near the Strait due to security concerns.
- Since February 28, Iran and the US/Israel have exchanged attacks, including airstrikes and missile strikes.
- The US Navy began a blockade around April 13, stopping and inspecting ships near Iran.
- UK maritime forces have reported over 20 confirmed attacks on ships in the area.
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